SEYMOUR, INDIANA: An Indiana racing driver was killed on Friday, August 18, in an apparent road rage incident.
Ashlea Albertson, the Tony Stewart Racing driver, was a passenger in a white 2018 GMC Terrain driven by Jacob Kelly. She was involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash on I-65 in Jackson County, according to CBS News.
Who is Jacob Kelly?
According to a social media post shared by the 24-year-old woman's family, Kelly, and Ashlea were engaged and were set to be married in 2024.
What led to the crash that killed Ashlea Albertson?
According to police, a video footage from the scene showed that Kelly's GMC Terrain and Austin Cooper's black Chevrolet Malibu engaged in a dangerous contest of speed while traveling northbound on I-65.
The two drivers also kept trying to switch lanes and continued not allowing each other to change lanes.
"Cooper's vehicle then began to change lanes into the path of Kelly's vehicle," said police.
"Jacob Kelly lost control of his vehicle and spun, which resulted in the two vehicles colliding in the middle of the northbound lanes," read the statement.
Albertson was ejected from the car after Kelly's car rolled over. According to police, 24-year-old Cooper's vehicle landed in a field located east of the roadway.
Following the incident, Albertson and her fiance were immediately transported to the University of Louisville Hospital where the 24-year-old racing driver was pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, Kelly was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Cooper, along with an underage passenger, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana.
An investigation into the tragic incident is currently ongoing as blood tests and toxicology results of both drivers remain pending.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, possible charges in the case will be determined.
Ashlea Albertson's father mourned her loss
On Friday, the crash victim's father took to her official racing Facebook page to announce her death.
"This is one of the hardest posts that I could possibly make, but I have no words to put it out other than making a video to share with everybody who loved her and that she loved in return," he said in the emotional video.
"I want to thank you from my family, from myself, for making her feel like she was the best racer out there each and every time that she took the track," Albertson's father tearfully stated.
Mourning the loss of Albertson, her teammate Tony Stewart took to Twitter to pay tribute to the young racing driver.
"Today, I lost a teammate @AshDogRacing had an infectious personality and could light up any room. She was a great race car driver that was involved in a road rage accident and lost her life," he tweeted.
"In the past, I've also gotten caught up in road rage," Stewart continued.
"I hope that we can honor Ashlea by controlling what we can control on the highway. Losing her is a sobering reminder of how precious life is. Please join me in keeping her family and friends in your prayers," he wrote.
